I promise that this blog will not be mainly filled with posts of political nature, but that is what is filling my head at the moment. So many things I do not understand about politics and the manner in which they are approached...
1) Why do we get so offended when someone has political views that differ from ours? Yes, I agree that politics are a personal and important matter, but must we attack each other for choosing to support or not support a certain candidate or party? Someone told me that I should not "publicly endorse" any particular candidate this year via bumper stickers or yard signs (not that I would in the first place), because they feel that things will get ugly as we near the elections and in the time that follows. Sadly, this is probably sound advice, but it just seems so wrong that someone would harm me or my property based on who I feel would make a better president. Further proof of how sick our society can be.
2) Why do we as a society allow our politicians to behave like children year after year? Slanderous ads and remarks are made by both parties and there may be apology's or their may not be. Often times we are feed the line " that's just the way things are sometimes." I want to know why? Why does this have to be the way things are? Why do we put up with it, like it is normal and ethical?
3) How can I be expected to formulate an opinion on which candidate I agree with, when I have such little respect for either side? Maybe I am naive, but I want a leader who has earned my respect, not because of how he/she dresses, not because of which late night shows they agree to visit...but because of the character and skills they possess to lead our nation in a responsible and ethical way.
4) I am sometimes saddened by how little credit the media and political parties give the public. They try to entice us with fancy clothes, the kind of music they listen too, which celebrities are a part of their campaign. Seriously? Frankly, I think we should be a little insulted. I will not be "seduced" into supporting a particular party based on weather or not they advertise on Facebook.
5)I Acknowledge that being a political leader and especially a president is not a job I would want. I realize that we often judge those in these positions based on the limited information we recieve from the media or based on the fact that they made decisions contrary to the ones that we would have made. There needs to be room for some grace here, while at the same time holding our leaders and ourselves accountable.
Again, all I ask for is a candidate/party that has enough respect for itself and the people they represent, to conduct themselves with integrity. I also want to believe that we as a society, especially those who claim to be "tolerant" of those who are different from us, realize that "different" may even be someone who chooses to vote for a candiate other than the one we support.
7 comments:
I have found myself asking the same questions this year. Your #1 point especially jumped out at me, though, because I have seen so much of this as we near Election Day. I'm amazed at the violent emotion with which people express their disapproval of other people's political choices. Politics have a way of bringing out the ugly in even the most peace-loving and level-headed people. Why can't we hold our own opinions and leave it at that? Why must we attack others? Where does the anger come from?
I must say that while I do agree with whole politicians needing to cut out their tasteless tactics. I'm not so sure I believe in the stifling of the voices of the people. That's the beauty of America, we are given the ability to speak our minds, we can exercise our personal voice and what we believe in an issue or a candidate. For many people, these issues are very close to home, how a candidate states he/she is planning to run the country can have a huge impact on our lives. Of course it's emotional, it is not worthy of actual violence, but it is something that holds great value to many people.
Maybe I'm reading it wrong, but I'm not sure this post is promoting the stifling of voices. If anything, I would interpret it as the opposite. If people didn't so violently hate on one another because of differing political opinions, maybe people would feel even more free to open up their mouths and speak their minds. I know I would.
Also, while I don't believe in the stifling of voices, either, I do believe in tolerance and respect. I also believe in non-violence. The majority of us do not do violence with our hands, but with our words.
Nicely said all, violence with words is so damaging and that seems to be what all the ads are about anymore.
Brookey- I hear your heart here. I'm glad you feel passionately about these things.
Unfortunately, I'm afraid that this year there is going to be a great deal of violence that still remains after the election. A fact that makes me weary and sad.
Thanks friends for your feedback.
I wish this violence we're talking about was limited to ads. Where I live, it is committed most often amongst brothers and sisters and friends.
If we really understood the power of a single word, we would not be so careless. We would recognize that great responsibility comes with that power. And if we really understood the incredible privilege that is free speech, we would not be so careless with it.
I will now step down from my soapbox.
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